Gujarat: Power Resource | Gujarat State PSC (GPSC) Preparation: All subjects - GPSC (Gujarat) PDF Download

Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL)

• In 1999, Gujarat established Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL) under the Companies Act of 1956. Created by the Gujarat Electricity Board (GEB) as a wholly owned subsidiary, GUVNL was part of a restructuring initiative for improved management of the power sector.
• The state undertook significant reforms in its power sector, leading to the formation of separate corporate entities for generation, transmission, and distribution from GEB. As of April 1, 2005, GEB was reorganized into seven companies: Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL) for power trading and coordination, Gujarat State Electricity Corporation Ltd. (GSECL) for power generation, Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation Ltd. (GETCO) for transmission, and four distribution companies: Madhya Gujarat Vij Co. Ltd. (MGVCL), Dakshin Gujarat Vij Co. Ltd. (DGVCL), Uttar Gujarat Vij Co. Ltd. (UGVCL), and Paschim Gujarat Vij Co. Ltd. (PGVCL). All six companies are 100% subsidiaries of GUVNL, which oversees their operations.

Power supply-demand position in Gujarat

• Gujarat's power supply position has improved significantly over the past decade. The peak demand-supply deficit has decreased at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 31%, and the power requirement and availability deficit has dropped by a CAGR of 38%. By 2012, the state achieved nearly zero percent deficit, indicating sufficient power availability.
• As of March 31, 2016, Gujarat's total installed capacity was 20,081 MW from conventional sources, with contributions from GSECL (6,372 MW), State IPPs (2,269 MW), Private IPPs (7,507 MW), and Central Sector Share (3,933 MW). By October 31, 2016, this capacity had slightly decreased to 19,791 MW, with changes in contributions from the various sources.
• The installed capacity for wind farms increased from 3,933 MW on March 31, 2016, to 4,205 MW by October 31, 2016.
• Under the Sagarkhedu Sarvangi Vikas Yojana, efforts to strengthen distribution and transmission networks and establish new substations in coastal areas involved an expenditure of ₹42,509.47 lakh in 2015-16 and ₹20,521.44 lakh in 2016-17. During 2015-16, GETCO commissioned 100 new substations (21 in tribal areas) and 2,925 Circuit Kilometers (CKM) of transmission lines.

Major Thermal Power Stations

Ukai Thermal Power Station

• The Ukai Thermal Power Station, situated near Ukai Dam on the Tapi River in Tapi District, is a coal-based power facility. It includes two units of 120 MW each (Units 1 & 2), two units of 200 MW each (Units 3 & 4), one unit of 210 MW (Unit 5), and one unit of 500 MW (Unit 6), totaling an installed capacity of 850 MW. 
• All units were manufactured by BHEL. Units 1 to 5 were commissioned between March 19, 1976, and January 30, 1985. Major repairs and maintenance for Units 1 and 2 have been completed.

Gandhinagar Thermal Power Station

• Located in Gandhinagar, near Ahmedabad, on the bank of the Sabarmati River, the Gandhinagar Thermal Power Station is a coal-based power plant. 
• It comprises two units of 120 MW each (Units 1 & 2) and three units of 210 MW each (Units 3, 4 & 5), with a total installed capacity of 870 MW. All units were manufactured by BHEL, with commissioning dates from March 13, 1977, to March 17, 1998.

Wanakbori Thermal Power Station

• The Wanakbori Thermal Power Station is situated near Wanakbori Dam on the Mahi River in Kheda District. This coal-based power station has seven units, each with a capacity of 210 MW, totaling 1,470 MW. 
• All units were manufactured by BHEL and commissioned between March 23, 1982, and December 31, 1998.

Sikka Thermal Power Station

• Located near Jamnagar, the Sikka Thermal Power Station is a coal-based facility. It features two units of 120 MW each and two units of 250 MW each, totaling an installed capacity of 740 MW. 
• All units were manufactured by BHEL, with commissioning dates from March 26, 1988, to December 28, 2015.

Kutch Lignite Thermal Power Station

• The Kutch Lignite Thermal Power Station, near Panandhro village in Kutch District, is a lignite-based plant. It includes two units of 70 MW each (Units 1 & 2) and two units of 75 MW each (Units 3 & 4), totaling 290 MW. 
• The 70 MW units are from BHEL, while Unit 3 is from Elecktrim Poland and Unit 4 is from BHEL. Commissioning dates range from March 29, 1990, to October 22, 2008. Unit 4 started commercial operation on December 20, 2009. Major repairs and maintenance for Units 1 and 2 have been completed.

Dhuvaran Thermal Power Station

• The Dhuvaran Thermal Power Station, the first power station of the erstwhile GEB, is located near Khambhat in Anand District. It is an oil and gas-based power facility with four units of 63.5 MW each (Units 1 to 4) and two units of 140 MW each (Units 5 & 6), totaling 534 MW. 
• All units were made by General Electric, USA, with commissioning dates from December 17, 1964, to September 10, 1972. Units 1 to 4 are retired, and Units 5 and 6 were derated to 110 MW on April 20, 2007, before being retired on December 1, 2010.

Gujarat Power Corporation Limited (GPCL)

Gujarat Power Corporation Limited (GPCL) aims to enhance Gujarat's power generation capacity through private and joint sector investments and to develop Techno-Economic feasibility reports for various power projects.

• 500 MW Bhavnagar Lignite-Based Power Project: This project is nearing implementation.
• 700 MW Gas-Based Power Project at Pipavav: Executed by GSPC Pipavav Power Company Ltd. (GPPC), it is now commissioned and in preservation mode.
• 3 x 840 MW Pipavav Power Project (JV between TPL & GPCL): Execution has commenced.
• 6 x 1000 MW Nuclear-Based Power Project at Bhavnagar: The Indian government has approved this project, and GPCL has been appointed as the nodal agency for its development.

Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation Ltd.

Power Project - Nani Chher: In 2015-16, Akrimota Thermal Power Station generated 1427.42 million units (MUs) and earned Rs. 257.04 crore. In 2016-17 (up to September), it generated 687.33 MUs and earned Rs. 138.59 crore.

Renewable Energy in Gujarat

Gujarat is a leader in solar, biomass, and wind energy. It was the first state to introduce a Wind Energy policy in 1993 and a Solar Policy in 2009. According to the Gujarat Energy Development Agency (GEDA):

• Solar Power Capacity: As of March 31, 2016, the installed capacity was 1127 MW.
• Biomass and Small Hydro Capacity: As of March 31, 2016, these stood at 41.2 MW and 9.6 MW, respectively.

Key Projects and Initiatives

• Gujarat Solar Park, Charanka: Located in Charanka village, Patan District, this park has a commissioned capacity of 345 MW from 23 developers. An additional 230 MW is under development, expected to be operational by March 2017, bringing the total to about 575 MW. GPCL is also involved in socio-economic development initiatives in nearby villages, including mobile medical services and training programs with SEWA.
• Tidal Power Project: GPCL is the nodal agency for Gujarat’s first tidal power project, in partnership with Atlantis Resources Corporation. Feasible sites include the Gulf of Kutch near Mandvi and the Gulf of Khambhat near Hajira.
• Gandhinagar Grid-Connected Solar Rooftop Project: This includes a 2.5 MW project by Azure Sun Energy Private Limited with installations on government and private buildings.
• Vadodara Grid-Connected Rooftop Solar Project: M/s Madhav Solar Private Limited installed 4.6 MW on commercial and institutional buildings in Vadodara.
• 1 MW Grid-Connected Distributed Solar Power Pilot Project: GPCL is setting up a 1 MW project on agricultural land to study the impact of shadow effects on crop and solar energy generation.
• 700+ Ultra Mega Solar Park: An "In Principle" approval has been given for a 700+ MW solar power project on 1407 hectares of waste land in Banaskantha. The detailed project report has been submitted, and a Long-Term Access application is in progress.

Gujarat Energy Development Agency (GEDA)

• GEDA focuses on achieving self-sufficiency in energy and ensuring its availability at affordable prices, crucial for economic and social development. 
• Given India's limited energy resources and high dependency on imported petroleum, GEDA's strategies are essential for meeting Gujarat's high energy demand and supporting rapid development.